13 Arrested, 3 More Sought In Luzerne County Drug Ring

Thirteen people, most of them from southern Luzerne County, were arrested on drug charges yesterday after a year-long police investigation of an alleged heroin and cocaine ring.

Police are searching for three more suspects.

The investigation, by state and local authorities, used wiretaps and centered on Nocchi's Bar in Freeland, police said.

Feb. 16, police said, they arrested 12 narcotics dealers in the alleged ring. The suspects included Anna Nocchi, 77, of Freeland; her daughter, Jean Rish, 58, of Sandy Valley; and her grandson, Anthony Allen Rish, 38, of Freeland. Police said the family sold heroin and cocaine from their bar for cash and food stamps.

The suspects arrested yesterday are "narcotics dealers and users of a lower level" than those arrested in February, police said.

They were taken to state police headquarters in West Hazleton, where they were fingerprinted and arraigned before District Justice Gerald Feissner.

These are the 13 people who were arrested yesterday:

* Gary Esposito, 36, of 637 N. Vine St., Hazleton, who was charged with 10 counts of criminal solicitation of delivery of a controlled substance.

Police are still searching for Joseph Bonacci, 31, of 417 W. Diamond Ave., Hazleton, who is charged in a warrant with one count of criminal solicitation; Edward J. Gualtier, 35, of 840 Grant St., Hazleton, who is charged with one count of criminal solicitation; and Alan A. Rish, 36, of Florida, who is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy, possession of heroin and criminal solicitation.